belgianwaffle

Mr. Waffle

Early photo


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess

The tasteful layout provided by twentysix doesn’t draw attention to new photos quite as vigorously as Mr. Waffle would like – no flashing lights, no rotating 3D letters. So here’s a tasteful pointer: there is a new photo over there.

Comments

UndercoverCookie

on 14 January 2005 at 11:50

Now, as her mother, I am sure you think Princess is utterly gorgeous…
well you’re right: she is.  

Beth

on 15 January 2005 at 00:10

What a doll! 

belgianwaffle

on 15 January 2005 at 10:54

Jack, under where it says new photos. Are you back or just visiting?
Cookie, you are a kind cookie.
Beth, thank you!  

jackdalton

on 15 January 2005 at 18:01

I knew that!!! It was a joke, see? Just visiting – life is gone mad 🙂
And just visiting Jardin Botanique et environ too, as it happens…. 

poggle

on 17 January 2005 at 11:52

Purty ….  

belgianwaffle

on 21 January 2005 at 22:39

Thank you, your pogness.

Better


Posted in: Mr. Waffle

I got an email from my friend C saying how nice it was to see me over Christmas etc (she’s very polite, I like that in a friend) and she added, tactfully, that I looked very well and, as I never change, I must have a picture in the attic although it’s a pity I hadn’t put it up in my early 20s rather than my early 30s. I am still mulling on the full import of this.

Meanwhile, a colleague of Mr. Waffle’s whom I met at this party yesterday said to him “I had no idea that your wife was so much younger than you”.  “She’s not” he said shortly.  Ha.

Comments
Beth

(Homepage)

on 11 January 2005 at 02:12

Picture in the attic? Ok, you lost me again.

Friar Tuck

on 11 January 2005 at 05:39

But everyone knows that men become more fascinating as they age, while women become, well, older. Take me, for instance.
So maybe less smugness is in order, hmm?

Friar Tuck

on 11 January 2005 at 05:46

Beth, it’s a reference to The Picture of Dorian Gray

Kathy

(Homepage)

on 11 January 2005 at 15:40

Isn’t that fun?! All my husbands students think he ‘robbed the cradle.’ They’re surprised when they find out I’m only 9 months younger than he is!

stroppycow

on 11 January 2005 at 22:59

I can’t believe he denied it.

Mikeachim

on 11 January 2005 at 23:05

Hm. Yes. Mixed messages. Either way, it sounds like you look good, so I don’t think there’s cause for worry…. 🙂

belgianwaffle

on 12 January 2005 at 18:07

Thanks Bobble.
Beth, I am honoured to have a BOB finalist comment. Have been working my little fingers to bone voting for you. FT, is correct re attic pic.
FT,less smugness from whom?
Well, Kathy, mine is a year younger than me, so even better. Ha ha.
Ahem, yes Stroppy, I know.
Mike, you are kind and good.

No flirting for me


Posted in: Mr. Waffle

This afternoon we went to a party hosted by a Dutch-Italian couple who were in college with Mr. Waffle. It was full to the brim with kiddies and we had a lovely time (imagine, there was a time when I believed that this would never be possible). It’s the kind of party your parents used to bring you to when you were little.  It features a large dead pig which the host imports annually from Italy in a special case designed for this purpose. It’s all very thrilling.

However, I had two conversations with Italian men which confirmed my worst fears:

Conversation 1

Me:  Hi, I shook hands with you at mass the other week and I don’t think you recognised me.

Him: Ah, it was you, no, I didn’t but now of course I know you are ….(very long pause) oh yes, you are, (rummages about in the back of brain)…um..

Finally to the enormous relief of both of us, he produces my name.

Conversation 2

Me:  Hello Marco, how are you?

Him: (slightly nervous smile, big kiss on each cheek) how wonderful to see you, it’s been ages.

Me: You don’t remember my name.

Him: (smiling winningly) But I remember YOU.

Me: But my name?

Him: (nervously) But I remember your status.

Me: I beg your pardon? You mean you know my husband?

Him: (winning smile again) Exactly, you are married to Mr. Waffle, no?

I tell you, there was a time in my life when Italian men used to remember me. I’m feeling my age here.

Comments
Friar Tuck

on 09 January 2005 at 23:41

And another thing… You’re married, have a small child and wonder why Italian men have stopped paying attention to you?! You didn’t learn much about Italian men, with all due respect.

Bobble

on 10 January 2005 at 00:29

Italian men – my mother warned me about them. She still wanted me to marry one however…Alas, my countrymen are too short for me. And like Porchetta too much.

jackdalton

on 10 January 2005 at 01:41

If that’s your worst fear, ‘waf, you’re doing ok 🙂

Kathy

(Homepage)

on 10 January 2005 at 19:49

I wish I could say that…”there was a time when Italian men remembered me.” I just have to be happy that MY man remembers me! LOL

belgianwaffle

on 10 January 2005 at 21:04

FT, funny. Bobble, you are tall? Lucky, lucky you. JD, hello, where have you been? Kathy, well, all you had to do was spend some time in Italy in your late teens or early 20s, I wouldn’t get carried away here, but ta..

Bobble

on 10 January 2005 at 22:11

Sadly not – I am average height 1.66cm – but my male friends from Rome and southwards were invariably the same height as me. Damn.

Mikeachim

on 11 January 2005 at 22:57

I thought it was *bad* when Italian men remember you? As in “oh yess, I remembera you, darling, hehehe”, “Oh godddd”, etc.
Hm.

belgianwaffle

on 12 January 2005 at 18:08

Mike, well, I guess it depends.
Well, you’re taller than me Bobble, I am a miserable 164.

Christmassy things


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess, Work

Here I am, so keen on my new job that I did a bit of work this evening. And promptly lost it. So while microsoft tries to retrieve it for me, I will take deep breaths and blog.

I love the job, so far, I mean, it’s early days and I haven’t got paid yet, but I am enjoying myself.  And even though the poor Princess was sick last week, I am still glad to be back.  Dutifully, Mr. Waffle took time off on Friday to mind sick baby and take her to the doctor. This was the first time he has taken her to the doctor. Last time, she didn’t like it much.  But it was September and in his other office. However, our girl is a hard hater. She arrived, took one look at the doctor and began to roar. Mr. Waffle tells me that when the trauma of the examination was over he let her go and put her on the floor so that she would understand she wasn’t being held against her will.  Apparently, she promptly ran for the door.

Anyhow, you will be delighted to hear that she appears to be largely recovered. We went to the Christmas market today and had a ride on a merry go round which was most pleasing to the royal person. We also went to a crib exhibition which I thought she might like. In we tripped to the church and she promptly mortified me by roaring “Mass, no, pas mass” and grabbing on to the church door like something from the Exorcist. Apparently, she finds mass dull. Anyway, she was mildly interested in the cribs but fascinated by the styrofoam on the floor which served as fake snow. After a quick roll in the styrofoam, Mr. Waffle took her home while I went to mass (well, I was hardly going to take her). Mr. Waffle informs me that he spent some time removing strofoam pieces from up her nose on his return. The simple pleasures of parenthood.

Comments
Friar Tuck

on 12 December 2004 at 22:56

Good thing you didn’t feed Her Highness pea soup before going to the exhibition!
on 13 December 2004 at 18:29

Work’s going well? Splendid!Princess hates doctors? Can’t blame her!

Princess finds mass a bore? Can’t blame her!

Princess enjoys shoving styrofoam up her nose? Can’t bla….err….haven’t tried it myself.

belgianwaffle

on 13 December 2004 at 20:33

Bobble, how very exotic of you. FT, indeed. Locotes, you never know until you try..

Exciting!


Posted in: Belgium, Mr. Waffle, Princess

Well, we seem to be spending a lot of time in the car at the moment.  Last night on the way home (without Mr. Waffle), there was a slightly hairy moment involving two other cars, a van and a bicycle.  There was a squealing of brakes and my child was somewhat tossed about in her car seat.  “Well, that was exciting” I said to the Princess. Tonight when we drove home with Mr. Waffle, there was a similar quick stop and the Princess was again tossed in her seat (nobody is to panic, Belgian driving is like this).  She clutched her father’s arm (he was sitting in the back with her) and giggled and said “exciting!”. Mr. Waffle looked at me dubiously “why does she say that?”  “I cannot imagine” I replied while offering hush money to herself.  Though that was partly to stop her requesting that we sing ‘ingle bells’ again.

Comments
jackdalton

on 05 December 2004 at 11:59

Nice one…. 🙂

belgianwaffle

on 05 December 2004 at 15:07

Beth, yes, I suppose there is that. Do you know that the French for a seal is “phoque”. I leave pronounciation to your imagination.
JD, thank you..

Locotes

on 05 December 2004 at 23:24

You’re a delightful influence to be sure ms. waffle. And I’m quite sure you were in no way responsible for any shaky moments on the road involving cars, vans, bicycles, elephants, and such and such.

poggle

on 06 December 2004 at 15:43

‘Phoque’? So that’s what she was saying in imperious tones ..

belgianwaffle

on 07 December 2004 at 22:46

Locotes, no, well, not really. Pog, yes, clearly…

Comments

belgianwaffle

on 03 December 2004 at 21:56

Hmm. And more this morning. And she won’t realise that Christmas is over. I could still be jingle belling in Feb.

Friar Tuck

on 03 December 2004 at 22:27

Try distracting her by singing “One hundred bottles of beer on the wall”.

belgianwaffle

on 03 December 2004 at 22:29

Aren’t you the funny one, FT? After all the trouble, I took reviving you as well.

Friar Tuck

on 04 December 2004 at 17:27

Well! I see useful suggestions are not appreciated here! And I did thank you for bringing me back from the dead, sort of.

Blogsitting


Posted in: Mr. Waffle

Oh hello, I didn’Â’t see you there. I just came in to check the curtains were drawn in the blog – itÂ’s pretty chilly out there and I didnÂ’t want the place to get cold.

Sorry ? No, stay as long as you like – IÂ’ll just potter around for a minute, then IÂ’’ll leave you in peace. Yes, they arrived safely – the Princess is most pleased with her loyal subjects in Cork. Apparently she got to go on a Bob the Builder car outside the supermarket… no, one of the ones for kids where you put a coin in.

The weather ? Bucketing, apparently – same as Brussels. But they’Â’re having a good time, as far as I can tell. Her grandparents are delighted to see her and the Princess is eating vast amounts.

Me ? Oh, IÂ’’m fine. Yes, it might seem as if I had a week of freedom – but it’Â’s still a bit grim when you come back to an empty flat. Well, since you ask I did go out to the pub last night but it was still a school night so I was home by 10.30Â… Anyway, IÂ’’ll let you get on with it.

Sorry ? Well, I might look in tomorrow but I donÂ’t know if it would be a good idea to change too much.

What do you mean by “just a bit ?”

I see. – I donÂ’t know if that would be a good idea …Well, yes, obviously I could keep things ticking over, but itÂ’s her blog and I’Â’d feel nervous…update Lazy Jack Silver ? Who sent you ? What do you want from me ? Get out !

Comments
Friar Tuckon 19 November 2004 at 05:16

A post! My life has meaning again!

Mrs. Waffleon 19 November 2004 at 11:01

Don’t think that I’m not watching you. My spies are everywhere. Pick up that dirty glass.

poggleon 19 November 2004 at 12:06

And be careful where you put your feet – there are priceless drafts of Booker-prize-winning novels all over the place, you know!

NorahSplogon 19 November 2004 at 12:12

Hmmm… Mrs Waffle doesn’t do it like that.

Friar Tuckon 19 November 2004 at 17:41
Hey, they have computers and the Internet in Cork! Who knew? Do the computers there run on electricity, or are they still the horse-drawn variety?
on 19 November 2004 at 20:50This may be very bad for our marriage, but I couldn’t help it. Fans of Lazy Jack Silver will find a new update. Fans of the Princess will find a new photo. I may have to find a new flat …
Mr Waffle
belgianwaffleon 28 November 2004 at 15:07

Mr. Waffle has just been let back in. It was raining out there. I am not entirely heartless.

Comments jackdalton on 16 November 2004 at 15:25So does this mean he finds out about you and the “hot”, young, Cork-lovin’ Locotes? 🙂 Friar Tuck on 16 November 2004 at 16:52You can count on us to behave ourselves! *tee hee* Locoteson 16 November 2004 at 16:53What do you mean find out about me? I’m here in the public domain at all times – no sneaking about under cover of darkness here. No sir. And I’m not sure I appreciate the use of quotes around ‘hot’ either – anyone would think you don’t quite believe that jack…Anyway waffle, when do you leave? Or have you left? In which case I’m talking to myself….ahem… *sidles away* Beth(Homepage)on 16 November 2004 at 18:03 You take more vacation than anyone I know – although being American that isn’t saying much. *jealous* poggleon 17 November 2004 at 14:10Is that wise, waffle? I mean, is he tidy? Or is he likely to laze about drinking all your booze and leaving dirty glasses and plates all over the place? belgianwaffleon 28 November 2004 at 15:06I’m back. I fear poor LJS suffered in my absence but otherwise all seems well.. jackdaltonon 28 November 2004 at 17:02See… you weren’t missed at all 😛 belgianwaffleon 01 December 2004 at 22:05JD, hmm.